Kanapu Support presents a tri-thematic series of one-hour talks. Māori specialists, experts and leaders share their views and experience regarding key questions pertaining to one of the three themes of science, innovation and technology. These provocative, insightful conversations dive deep into the issues restricting or driving Māori participation in the RSIT sector: the visions for our futures, and what we need to have on our radar. Talks also include pathways, leadership, development and opportunities for Māori and Māori knowledge and practice within the sector.
Science Series | Tātai Pūtaiao
Wai – It matters:
mātauranga Māori, policy, commerce and science
Erina Watene
Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto,
Ngāi Te Rangi
12 February 2026
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Kia Tipu: Māori
Horticulture
Revitalisation
Nick Roskruge
Ngāti Rahiri, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Tama,
Ngāti Porou
16 April 2026
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Kanapu is excited to present five speakers in this series. The first two confirmed speakers, local experts Erina and Nick, take us into the worlds of enquiry and science that have flowed through and grown in their lives over the years. He wai, he oranga; me ai te tore whenua.
The remaining three speakers will be released in early 2026. By registering now, you will sign up for all five speakers within this Science series.
“[Previous talks have been] really engaging. I really liked the conversational aspect of Q&A as opposed to sitting through a ‘powerpoint presentation’ type approach. He tino whakaaweawe!”
A bit about our kaikōrero
Erina Watene
Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Te Rangi
Erina Watene is a freshwater scientist with a background in tāonga species research, lake and river restoration, resource management and environmental planning. She has extensive experience working at the interface between policy, mātauranga Māori, and science in both academic and governance settings. Erina was Pou Pūtaiao (Chief Scientist – Māori) for the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge and is a Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Board member, an alternative Director for Te Wai Māori Trust, and serves on the Waikato River Authority Board among her many governance roles.
Join us to hear Erina’s perspective on key issues for te ao Māori around freshwater taonga species and water governance. She will discuss the pressures facing these species, what it means to uphold kaitiakitanga in practice, and where we can contribute across restoration, governance, and decision‑making.
Nick Roskruge
Ngāti Rahiri, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Porou
Recently retired as Professor of Ethnobotany at Massey University, Nick went from working in a cropping gang to a prestigious academic career, teaching and learning about indigenous foods worldwide. He works with Tahuri Whenua – National Māori Horticulture Collective, and is still very hands-on, keeping ancestral kai-growing knowledge and practices alive.
Join us to discuss progress made in recent decades to revitalize indigenous horticultural practices including Nick’s insights on navigating academia while growing a community of grassroots whānau practitioners.
Registration Form
By completing this registration form, the one link will give you access to all five speakers within the Science series – those confirmed and yet to be confirmed as well. Attend as many of the series sessions as you can. Registering now puts you on the mailing list to receive updates on who the next speakers are, and when the sessions you might have missed (or enjoyed enough to watch again) are available on our Vimeo page.
We care about your privacy. Personal information and responses entered on this form will be stored securely in Aotearoa New Zealand and will not be shared beyond our data storage host.